Abstract
A fluid in equilibrium in a finite volume V with particle number N at a density ρ=N/V exceeding the onset density ρf of freezing may exhibit phase coexistence between a crystalline nucleus and surrounding fluid. Using a method suitable for the estimation of the chemical potential of dense fluids, we obtain the excess free energy due to the surface of the crystalline nucleus. There is neither a need to precisely locate the interface nor to compute the (anisotropic) interfacial tension. As a test case, a soft version of the Asakura-Oosawa model for colloid-polymer mixtures is treated. While our analysis is appropriate for crystal nuclei of arbitrary shape, we find the nucleation barrier to be compatible with a spherical shape and consistent with classical nucleation theory.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 026101 |
Journal | Physical review letters |
Volume | 114 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 13 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Physics and Astronomy